Display device



t Aug. 11, 1931. P. H. GRENNAN DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 27. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug- 11rl931- P. H, GRENNAN 1,818,247

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 27. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 iras asian? PHILIP H. GRENNAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN DISPLAY DEVICE Application led September 27, 1930. Serial No. 484,736.y

This invention relates to a display device and contemplates the provision of a frame of simple construction adapted to receive and display a plurality of product containers,

such as boxes or cartons containing cakes, crackers or the like, in an attractive manner.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly 10 when reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the product containers adapted to be positioned i'n the display device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through a portion of the structure shown in Figurel; y

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional `view through the display device shown in Figure 1 showing a plurality of product containers within this display device; and

Figure 5 is a plan view. showingthe dis play device in collapsed condition.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is shown in Figure 1 a display device in the form of a frame having a rear wall 10, a front wall 11 and the side walls 12A and 13 rectangularly arranged. This -frame is formed of a single length of relatively stiif material such as cardboard, the free ends of the strip of cardboard being permanently secured together by a line of fasteners such, for example, as the rivets 14 or by the use of some suitable adhesive material. Y

To provide for hingedly connecting the adjacentsides or walls of the frame to each other, each wall of the frame is provided on its end with a portion 15 bent outwardly at substantially'right angles to the plane ofits respective side and the portions 15 of adj'acentsides are integrally connected by a portion 16 of the strip of cardboard, which portion extends diagonally across its respective corner. By thus folding the strip of cardboard at the points of connection of the sides to each other, hinge joints are formed which may assume the position showny in Figure 3 of the drawing when the frame is in its normal position of use. When, however, the display device is not in use, these joints permit folding of the frame to the position shown in Figure 5 ofthe drawings, in which position it will be noted that two sides of the frame lie flat against the other two sides thereof.

The strip of cardboard is so cut along its one edge that when the same is bent to form the frame shown inFigure 1, the rear side 14 of the frame is relatively high, while the front side 11 is relatively low. The side 65 portions of the frame are stepped to provide the rear portions 17 of a height equal to the height of the rear side 14, the lower intermediate portions 18 and the front portions f 19 of a height substantially equal to the front 70 side 11 of the frame. The frame is adapted to receive and display a plurality of cardboard product containers 20, such as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, and accordingly, the width of the frame is such as to receive one of these containers. The lengt-h of the frame, that is, the distance from the front to the rear wall thereof, is such as to receive three of the containers 20, while the portions 17, 18 and 19 are of heights substantially 80 equal to thedepth of 3, 2 and 1 of saidcontainers, respectively. Thus, a lower row 20a of three containers may be positioned within the frame and this row will substantially fill the bottom of the frame, the topof the front container being iiush with the upper edge of the front side 11 and the upper edges of the portions19 of the sides of the frame. On top of this row of containers, there may be positioned a second row 201 of two containers, the front one of these containers being flush with the upper edges o-f the portions 18 of the sides of the frame. A single container y2Oc may then be positioned on top of the row 201 and the top 0f this container will be flush 9" with the upper edge of the side 14 andthe upper edges of the portions 17 of the sides of the. frame. Thus, the containers may be positioned within the frame to provide a stepped display of the same.y 10

If desired, a suitable advertising tab 21 may be provided, having on its forward face suitable advertising indicia such, for eX- ample, as designated by the reference character 22. The lower edge of this advertising tab is slotted, as indicated at the points designated by the reference character 23, to provide the portions 24; and 25 adapted to embrace the upper edge of the rear side 14 of the frame. Thus, this advertising tab may be supported by the rear wall of the frame and will be visible above the several containers positioned within the frame. If desired, the tab might be made integral with the rear wall l0 of the frame but for convenicnce of handling the device in al folded condition the tab is preferably made separable.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a display device in the form of a frame formed by a single strip of relatively stiff material, such as cardboard. The sides of the frame are hingedly connected to each other so that the frame may be collapsed to a position where two of its sides lie flat against its other two sides. Further, the strip of material may be so cut that the rear wall of the frame will be relatively high, the front wall will be relatively low, and the side walls will be stepped so as to be flush with the tops of the containers positioned within the frame.

lVhile the invention has been described in some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and that such changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims, without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention. The construction might be modified to provide for a greater number of tiers of containers. For this purpose the length of the frame might be increased and one or more additional shoulders provided in the side walls 'l2 and 13 so that tiers of four or more containers may be placed within the frame in such a waythat the upper surface of the top container will be flush with the adjacent shoulders of the side walls. If desired the width of the frame, when spread for use, may be made sufficient to accommodate two or more containers placed end to end or side by side.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A display device comprising a single strip of relatively stiff material bent to form a substantially rectangular frame having an unobstructed interior, and means securing the opposite ends of said strip of material together to hold said frame closed, said strip of material being cut intermediate its ends to form stepped sides for said frame.

2. A display device comprising a strip of cardboard having its ends secured together,

said strip of cardboard being bent intermediate its ends to form a substantially rectangular frame having an unobstructed interior, one edge of said strip of cardboard being cut to provide a relatively high rear wall for said frame, a relatively low front wall, and stepped side walls, and an advertising tab having its lower edge slotted to embrace the upper edge of the rear wall of said frame.

3. A display device adapted to compactly receive and display a plurality of rectangular product containers, comprising a single strip of cardboard bent to form a substantially rectangular frame of a width corresponding to adimension of one of said product containers, and of a length to receive a predetermined plurality of said containers, said strip of cardboard being cut intermediate its ends to provide a back wall for said frame of a. height substantially equal to the depth of a corresponding plurality of said containers, a front wall of a height substantially equal to the depth of one of said containers and stepped side walls each of which has arear portion of a height substantially equal to the depth of said plurality of said containers, an intermediate portion of a height substantially equal to the depth 0f a smaller number of said containers and a front portion substantially equal to the depth of one of said containers.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an elongated strip of cardboard folded upon itself to form a pair of superposed sections, and means securing the free ends of said sections to each other, each of said sections being divided into two portions hingedly connected at ltheir adjacent ends and one portion of each section being cut to provide a stepped edge, said sections being movable to a position wherein the portions thereof constitute the sides of a substantially rectangular frame having an unobstructed interior, the portions having stepped edges at points constituting opposite sides of said frame.

A display device comprising a single section of sheet material having a plurality of stepped shoulders arranged on opposite sides of a rectangular strip, said sheet being bent to form four corners and having the free ends fastened together so as to provide a retaining wall having front, back and side members, said side members being spaced to snugly and compactly accommodate rectangular articles to be displayed and having correspondingly stepped shoulders whose rise is correlated with the height of the articles to be displayed.

6. A display device comprising a rectangular frame, for the compact storage of rectangular fillers formed of thin sheet material, said frame comprising a low front member, a relatively high back member, and a pair of stepped side members, the frame being adapted to enclose and retain a plurality of stacked fillers, the said stepped members being stepped progressively from front to rear t0 correspond With the height of an increasing number of stacked fillers.

7. A display device for a plurality of rectangular llers Which comprises a frame for the compact storage of said llers Jformed of cardboard, said frame having a front member of a height corresponding With that of one of said fillers, a back member corresponding in height with a plurality of said fillers, and a pair of stepped side members, each step corresponding in height With that of a given number of fillers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 24th day of September, 1930.

PHILIP H. GRENNAN. 

